after chasing up letter from electrophysiologist to GP I’ll be starting sertraline later this week for anxiety. Apparently it’s the safest one when you have heart issues. It’s taken a month and me emailing to actually get to the point of a prescription 😂. I’ve read different things about sertraline is anyone else on here on it? I’ve read that the anxiety symptoms can get worse the first few weeks of taking it. Then they start to get better. I’m starting on 50mg but am wondering about halving the tablet for the first week. Anybody got any experience’s of it there happy to share?
thanks
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Ewloe
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Do just follow the medics advice on dose etc I took it after a series of heart events made me feel really down, not wanting to pick myself up yet again. The effect was pretty quick (a matter of days) and was very helpful. GP said to expect to be on it a while it’s not a quick fix.I had no trouble getting off it
Things don’t always get worse but yes they do for most people all you have to do is tell yourself it’s the tablets that are making it worse not me getting worse, stick with them it will clear after a few weeks.As for the dosage 50mg is the starting point you will probably be on them for the first month then a review where they will get upped to 100mg.
Good luck with everything and don’t worry there are lots of people on here who are on it to try and help over come the massive shot of heart treatment or surgery.
Thanks
Hello
I suffer with anxiety and have most of my life
When I had my heart attacks my Consultant wanted to get me on an anxiety med and I am ashamed to say I refused and I say ashamed as she told me and so did the Rehab Nurses that quite a few heart patients need the help of an anxiety med and there I was to afraid to try it
The one the Consultant could not speak more highly about was Sertraline
Yes it is true it sometimes it can make you feel worse before it makes you feel better but if you can get through that part of it then I have read so many that get the benefits from it
I know I stand to talk after I will not try it but that is how my anxiety works but I do hope you will not be as stupid as me and will give it a go and if you do come back and let us know how you get on x
I so love your honesty! Unfortunately most meds today come with reams of papers listing serious side effect possible and conscientious people like us read every word and then google all the reviews absorbing only the negative ones and possibly decide not to take the risk. No longer do we have the trusted face to face appointments with our GPs who have served our families for years and would sit down and give us a reassuring chat for half an hour. Some years ago I can remember deciding not to go for an angiogram after reading about slight possible risks. I rang my lovely GP (you could then) who told me to come down straight away to see her. She reassured me completely telling me how her mother had one two weeks earlier and no way would she have let her if she thought there was a risk etc etc. I was so glad I went.
I really liked reading about the good old days and how your Doctor had you straight down there and gave you the reassurance you needed if only we could go back to it been like that
I agree with everything you say about meds and that is exactly what I do read the leaflet and then go and look at reviews and then you guessed it I am petrified to try it
Yet I get so frustrated with myself because I know not to do it yet cannot resist and only I suffer
I am in a mess now I am on Bisoprolol I have never thought they suited me and my breathing has never been good since starting them over a year ago so my Doctor has given me a different one to try that could be so much better for me and here I have been everyday this week saying today I will start them and the fear takes over and we are now on Thursday and I am still taking Bisoprolol !
I also was better suited back to the days when you saw the Doctor fetched your meds and all they came in was a little brown bottle with what they were called how many to take and your name and that was it no internet to look at to see what it said so you would just take them as they label on the bottle said no fear nothing yet now well I only have to read someone sneezed taking something and I think O I can't take them then
That is so interesting, for some of us fear and anxiety (either real or imagined) prevent us from enjoying our lives to the full and taking life's opportunities, and for others, like yourself, keep you stuck in a circle of pain and agitation which you just resignedly accept as part of your life. I would recommend a book by a lady called Susan Jeffers "Feel the fear and do it anyway" or alternatively just remember "If you always do what you always did, then you will always get what you always got!" Perhaps it's time for change. The choice is yours. Go for it girl! Swap the meds. With sincere best wishes.
I will take a look at that book thank you for recommending it
I suffered with anxiety as a child and never got any help as back then it was a hushed subject and I saw it as something bad and of course been a child I did not understand why I felt the way I did
By the time I got older it was like it had come a part of me
I have had many psychologists as well as Counselling and also my anxiety has created ocd to mention one there are so many , I see it like a tree it has branched of in all directions and they have just grown and grown getting tangled around each other
It is not for a lack of trying but I think I have accepted it now but I do see the younger ones starting with anxiety issues and I urge them as much as I can to get the help now not to leave it as for me I did not have that choice to as we say nip it in the bud before it controls us
Maybe I will start those meds Monday that will have to be the best I can do as I also have PTSD and that involves weekends and with my ocd I cannot do anything different when the weekend is approaching my PTSD always rears its ugly head at that time of the week
Well I have well and truly made myself sound normal ( not )
I love watching the threads that develop on here. Well I’ve started my sertraline. The anxiety starting anti anxiety medication has caused me is bonkers. I revisited the pharmacist for reassurance about taking it on riveroxoban and he did reassure me. Apparently they like to make sure your on gastro protection when your on them both, which I am. I’d also sent a number of emails to Dr Luther the electrophysiologist in Liverpool who I’ve seen recently. So he phoned me up this evening out of the blue to reassure me which I thought was really good of him. Or maybe they just got fed up of my anxiety generated emails 😂😂. The personal touch has a real meaning. I’m just waiting for the side effects of sertraline now as apparently your likely to get them the first few weeks of starting them until your body adjusts. I know I need to take it as the anxiety has been eating me up lately.
Now again I cannot take my own advice but if you sit there waiting for the side effects then you will feel something maybe not even a side effect but your anxiety will build it into one , I know as I do it
Also remember that some people get no side effects and some very mild one's and why can't be one of those people
That was really lovely of him to phone you but you made me laugh when you said he might have got fed up of your anxiety emails you could have possibly filled his inbox up
I really admire you though and we are all here so we will help and I am looking forward to seeing you feeling so much better than you have been
I hear what you are saying and where you are coming from. You have had an extremely difficult time and obviously there are no easy solutions or answers. Yes Monday sounds good to me if you are possibly able to swap your meds, if not it can be your next goal. Remember there is no such thing as "normal" we are all unique individuals with different needs and personalities. You have helped a lot of people. Take care of yourself too. Best wishes.
I’ve kept your post and re-read it to boost me along. I’ve started the sertraline 5 days ago but the thoughts of how it has the potential to interact with blood thinners is keeping me awake at night 🙈. I’m potentially putting myself at an increased risk of bleeds. ( I know the riveroxaban does that anyway but the combination increases it a little bit more), I’ve read and re-read the research and I know it’s more risky for over 75 year olds and I’m 60. I keep asking myself have I done the right thing? It’s only anxiety shouldn’t I be able to just get on with it. I keep walking and exercising, I’ve tried light therapy and had counselling earlier and again now. My head is mixed up and I don’t know if it’s because I’m in the first 2 weeks of the sertraline or if everything is true. That sounds bonkers. Because there so limited to what anxiety medication I can have and the electrophysiologist said he’s happy I’ve started them I’m keeping at it. But what if I’ve made the wrong decision 🙈🙈🙈. Yes I’m bonkers. I know from your posts you understand anxiety.
Hi. I’ve got a close relative on it. You might struggle for the first couple of weeks but after that things should settle down. I’ve seen it have a really positive impact on anxiety and depression symptoms. I believe the starting point is 50mg with a maximum dose of 200mg but 100mg is usually the maintenance dose. Give it a try, it might make all of the difference. Best wishes.
Hi. I was prescribed it but after reading the literature and decided not to take it. Check out my updates on panic attacks. My GP rang me last week and I told her I wasn’t taking them. After a discussion she said I didn’t need to take them if I didn’t want to. I’m reading more and calming myself down so improving all the time. I think I’m lucky with good GP support. Take care.
hi there i have been on sertraline for 6 months now. Its my second try on anti-depressants and anxiety tablets. When i first took them my pupils went massive and i did feel abit funny that i needed to lie down when getting to active. you have to just take it in the morning and really steady yourself, dont think too much go with the flow. you can be a little forgetful about things as it chills you out. sometimes i feel in a world of my own. but we are all different so i wouldnt worry about taking it. I am on 50mg too. My son suffers anxiety too, and he can sometimes make me agitated i noticed, when this happens i find a quiet spot on my own. I havent had any side affects just get sleepy sometimes and then a burst of energy other days. Eat well and dont drink too much caffeine as it does bring on headaches i found. good luck.
I’ve been on sertraline since my CAD diagnosis 18 months ago, when I was in a very bad place with anxiety and low mood. I have to say I resisted taking medication for the psychological side initially (I really don’t know why!) but I am SO glad my GP persuaded me to try. It made a huge difference to me and meant the talking therapy I was also doing started to have a positive impact. I can’t tell you how much sertraline helped me get back on my feet. I take 50mg. Initially I found it made me feel quite nauseous (generally in the evenings so I switched to taking it at night rather than in the morning) but that settled down after 2 or 3 weeks. Initially I felt no different but the gp had warned me it takes about 6 weeks to start to really work, and I would agree with that. Good luck and maybe consider talking therapy too alongside the sertraline, your GP can point you in the direction of getting some talking therapy.
Hi, I took this for about 4 months with no problems definitely helped with my anxiety but then they gave me horrendous diarrhoea , I mean horrendous. 3 weeks non stop… Dr said this was not the cause….said I wanted to try to stop so weaned myself off them ,stopped the Sertraline and hayho the diarreah stopped . Might only be me but thought I ought to share. Good luck x
Hi. I suffered with anxiety and really bad depression and resisted medication for a long time. I’m hindsight I should have asked for help earlier. I went on to Sertraline and when talking to friends was amazed how many others I knew of were too. One said they cut out the extreme highs and lows and make things clearer and calmer. I can only agree with that sentiment. The side effect was initial stomach issues as others have mentioned which were not pleasant for a while but were definitely outweighed by the positives the medication gave me. Everyone is different but they did work for me and I phased off them after 12 months. Good luck with what you decide.
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Anxiety or possible heart rate problem 
weird breathing heart sensation 
is my heart slowing down too fast after activity?
